Don’t forget our police jawans, they are the real heroes!

When their sacrifice is no less than that of a jawan wearing an Army uniform, we shouldn’t exhibit any ignorance towards them and celebrate them the same way as heroes are meant to be celebrated. PHOTO: FILE

I would like to thank everyone for spreading and sharing the word about Ibtihajwhen he visited Karachifor his treatment. He was a little boy who ended up being a victim of terrorism. He smiled through his pain and misery and gave us hope. We rallied up behind him and celebrated him as a hero and rightfully so.

However, there is a group of men in Pakistan who, by their very job description, fill in the category of heroes but they don’t get the adoration, love and respect. In these times, when we are at war or at least living in war-like conditions, this group of men stand guard at all sensitive locations risking their lives every day as part of their everyday job thinking of it as a normal routine just so that we can stay busy with ease in our normal everyday lives.

And sometimes they themselves, either at their check posts or in their training academy, are targeted directly just to bring their morale down but they stand right back up and fulfil their duties to protect us the next morning.

In the last 10 years, our police officials have buried over thousands of their brothers. The government announces compensation for their families but in majority of the cases, they don’t even get that unless they agree to some kickbacks for the government.

When Nawaz Sharif, Imran Khan, Bilawal Bhutto, Munawar Hassan and Fazlur Rehman ponder over whether to indulge in talks or go for military operations, it is the life of a policeman that remains under constant threat. But until the government gets any sense of direction, who will look out for the lives of our policemen and their families?

The injured have been admitted to PNS Shifa, Liaquat National, Agha Khan and the police hospital in Garden. I urge you all to take a little time out of your busy schedule over the weekend and bring along flowers or if nothing else then at least a smile for our original heroes; those who have signed up their own lives to protect ours. Let them know that we won’t just dismiss them as corrupt officials but that we care and respect their services and sacrifices. Let them know we are proud of them.

When their sacrifice is no less than that of a jawan wearing an army uniform, we shouldn’t exhibit any ignorance towards them and celebrate them the same way heroes are meant to be celebrated.

It remains to be seen how quick the Sindh government will act to ensure that the families of the martyrs get due compensation and privileges. Especially since, our ministers shamelessly brandish their tinted Prados whilst being securely guarded by these very jawans.

In these times of insecurity and terror threats, our VIPs owe their safety, peace of mind and sanity to our jawans. One sincerely hopes they realise this.

A lawyer, activist and an independent politician. In 2013, he was listed by the Foreign Policy Magazine amongst three Pakistanis doing inspirational work against sectarian violence. He blogs at theindusripple.blogspot.com and tweets @MJibranNasir (twitter.com/MJibranNasir)

I was hoping when someone will recognize the contribution these so called “Tullas” as we say it have made to Pakistan. Thank you for writing this article. A police officer is also a civil servant and his sacrifice is no different from our uniformed soldiers. They work tirelessly without sufficient equipment or authority as our first line of defense, and they seldom get any credit for any worthwhile job done. So here is a thank you to our brave jawans, my prayers and wishes go out to the families of those brave officers who died in the line of duty.Recommend

Parvez

Although what you say is true and the small policeman deserves better. The thing is that the image of the ‘ police ‘ in the eyes of the public is as at such a low level ( blame it on the politicians or the senior police ) that the public response is at best muted.
Isn’t it strange that your blog came out yesterday and even today I am the first to say something………sad, is it not.
On a different note, I have heard you talk and follow a little of what you do and your intensity and drive is impressive.Recommend

Haree,

The policemen and the Army men consent to join their respective law enforcement agencies. They know the benefits and the drawbacks. They know that one day they can die while fighting.
All this is stated in the Constitution of Pakistan, you must have known it. You’re a lawyer. Aren’t you?Recommend